Essential Tips on How to Stay Healthy during the Holidays.

(ThySistas.com) Thanksgiving is behind us but Christmas and New Year is soon among us. The holiday season is all about family, food and all too often, adding a few extra pounds to our waistlines. Being physically active throughout the entire year is important. The American Heart Association recommends that children under the age of 18 get at least 60 minutes a day and adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderately vigorous physical activity.

Keep your family physically active when the weather gets chilly with these 5 tips:

Go Sledding – Running up a snowy hill, sliding down and repeating is a great way to get the whole family physically active.

Ice Skate – This is a great workout for your legs and heart. You’ll also help strengthen your core, which is engaged when trying to keep you balanced.

Shovel the Snow – Someone has to do it, and it’s a great way to get the heart pumping and the other muscles working. But don’t overdo it!

Go for an Afternoon or Evening Walk, Jog or Run – As long as you’re dressed warmly any time of day can be enjoyable for taking a stroll or a jog. Winter days are shorter, so start early enough to finish before it gets too dark.

Visit the Gym or Local Community Center -This is also a great way to entertain out-of-town guests. Grab a basketball, some jump ropes or volleyball for some fun physical activity!

Eat this, Not that

Ok, so the physical part is easy and family friendly. What about the eating and making healthy choices in between the peach cobbler and the baked ham with cranberry sauce? First and foremost eat breakfast. This has been shown to prevent overeating later in the day. Choose foods wisely, filling your plate with low-calorie items, such as leafy green salads, vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, and taking smaller portions of the richer ones. That way, you can eat a larger amount of food for fewer calories and not feel deprived. It’s also a good idea to allow yourself a splurge, do something healthy, like eating a piece of fruit, go for a walk or make yourself busy with decorating the house.

Don’t make yourself Sick

The holidays are one time of the year when you really want to feel your best. But they’re also a with cold and flu bugs wanting to join the holiday gatherings, it’s important to stay healthy as you enjoy your family.

Stock Up on Berries – Blueberries, raspberries, goji berries, and acai berries all contain high values of antioxidants capacity and offer protection against free radicals and sickness in the body. Berries also contain essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber all contributing to overall wellness.

Stay in, Rest up – If you run yourself ragged and don’t get a good night’s sleep, you risk getting ill just because you’ve worn down your body’s defenses.

Making good choices throughout the holiday is imperative to one’s overall health. Eat breakfast, make snow angels afterwards and make sure you are getting rest. You want to be perky, healthy and full of energy for Christmas dinner and while bringing in the New Year.